Cops arrest singing thief

The West Australian

Wednesday, 12 August 2009 10:55AM

A machete-wielding Mexican thief dressed like a crooning cowboy stole his victims' belongings, then forced them listen to him sing.

Authorities said officers arrested Vicente Fernandez decked out in a charro (singing cowboy) outfit, with a 40cm machete he used to frighten passersby into handing over their loot, local police spokesman Alfredo Barro said.

But his crime did not stop there: at least one victim - machete pressed to his throat - was forced to listen to the thief (who shares the name of a real singer) belt out his own bit of warbling.